Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 45

Tīrtha-Māhātmya: Mahālaya, Kedāra, Rivers and Fords, and Devadāru Forest

Akṣaya-Karma Doctrine

Devanagari script

श्राद्धं भवति चाक्षय्यं तत्र दत्तं महोदयम् / तारयेच्च पितॄन् सम्यग् दश पूर्वान् दशापरान्

Transliteration

śrāddhaṃ bhavati cākṣayyaṃ tatra dattaṃ mahodayam / tārayecca pitṝn samyag daśa pūrvān daśāparān

Translation

在彼处所行的施食祭（Śrāddha）成为不朽不坏；凡于彼处所施之物，皆得大福与大提升。确然能如法度脱诸祖灵（Pitṛ）——前十代与后十代。

Word by Word

• śrāddham: śrāddha rite
• śrāddham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrāddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• bhavati: becomes/is
• bhavati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (भू धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction: and)

• akṣayyam: imperishable, inexhaustible
• akṣayyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akṣayya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (imperishable)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• dattam: given (offered)
• dattam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: datta (कृदन्त; √dā/दा धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (PPP) ‘given/offered’

• mahodayam: of great benefit
• mahodayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + udaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—महान् उदयः यस्य तत् (कर्मधारय: great benefit)

• tārayet: should deliver/save
• tārayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tṝ (तॄ धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative/optative-like injunctive usage), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; विधिलिङ्-भावार्थ (should cause to cross/save)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• pitṝn: ancestors
• pitṝn: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• samyak: properly
• samyak: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samyak (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (properly, completely)

• daśa: ten
• daśa: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्दः; द्वितीया-बहुवचनार्थे विशेषण (ten)

• pūrvān: previous (earlier)
• pūrvān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (former/previous)

• daśa: ten
• daśa: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्दः; द्वितीया-बहुवचनार्थे विशेषण

• aparān: later (subsequent)
• aparān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (later/following)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing sages on Dharma concerning Śrāddha

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs
• Śrāddha

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

How does this verse explain the nature of the Supreme Self (Atman)?

Indirectly, it points to the enduring (akṣaya) fruit of dharmic action: when rites are done with right intention and scriptural alignment, their subtle merit persists beyond the perishable body—supporting the soul’s continuity across births and the welfare of one’s lineage.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes karma-yoga in a dharmic form—Śrāddha performed with śraddhā (faith), purity, and proper procedure. In the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis, such disciplined ritual action supports inner purification (citta-śuddhi), which is foundational for higher yogic realization.

How does this verse depict the relationship between Shiva and Vishnu?

By presenting Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) as the authoritative teacher of Dharma that also harmonizes with Śaiva-Pāśupata ethical discipline, the Purana models a non-sectarian unity: the same sacred order (dharma) upheld by Viṣṇu supports the spiritual aims honored in Śaiva traditions as well.